I LOVE NORTH SHIELDS | FEBRUARY ISSUE 2025

I Love North Shields.

FEBRUARY 2025 COMMUNITY: North Shields 800 Launch MUSIC: SHE the SHOW FEATURED: The Legacy of Scarlet Women BUSINESS: Tyne House The Ultimate Party Pad

@Marcus Reed

ISSUE 10

Contributors

Hello North Shields

Founder/Editor-in-Chief Simone Harper ilovenorthshields @outlook.com Linkedin @simonebranson Front Cover Photo Pete

The Exchange

Big news—we’ve just hit over 10,000 followers across our social media since May 2024! Honestly, we couldn’t be more proud of what we’re achieving together. It’s incredible to see our little corner of the internet grow, and it’s all thanks to YOU and the amazing stories you're sharing. Your stories are what’s putting North Shields on the map and making our community feel more connected than ever!

Our mission is simple: we want to give a platform to the incredible people, businesses, and creatives in our town. Whether it’s shining a light on a hidden gem, sharing someone’s personal story, or showcasing local talent, we’re here to connect, inspire, and build something special. Every month, our core team meets to plan the next big thing for the magazine. Behind every post, page, and story is a group of passionate writers who pour their heart and soul into every word. By sharing these stories, we’re not only celebrating our town, but we’re also helping everyone feel more connected to what’s happening in our community.

Together, we’re building strong foundations, creating opportunities, and spreading the love for North Shields far and wide.

If you’re on the lookout for talented local writers, photographers, illustrators, poets, or any other creatives, we’ve got an amazing group of people ready to collaborate. Don’t hesitate to get in touch —we’re all about connecting! We’re so proud of this issue, and we hope you love it as much as we do!

Simmie Harper X

Remembering Harold: A Life of Wisdom, Kindness, and Laughter We are saddened to learn of Harold’s passing, surrounded by his loving family.

Harold’s remarkable life and wisdom were beautifully captured in two interviews written by his granddaughter, Mim Robson: In Conversation with a 101-Year-Old and In Conversation with a 102-Year-Old. It was truly an honor to meet Harold in person, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mim for sharing his inspiring story with us.

Authors Alex Wright Bazoox aka Gene Scandall Caroline Oswald Carol Davison Diane Wailes Jake Rusby Mark Tavender Marianne Butler Mim Robson Olive Bishop Pauline Stewart Rachel Chapman Tatjana @thats.tat Suzanne Coulson Contributions Keith Bruce Illustrator Katie Stewart TikTok | Illustrator Jodhi Mae Rutherford @pinkpalava Photographers Coastal Captures @coastalcapturesne Lisa Young Photography Wayne Bordoli Photography Yevhen Slabun @yevphotography About Us I Love North Shields is an independent community driven publication, supported by the public, operating as a not-forprofit, community-interest company.

Contact Facebook @ilovenorthshields TikTok @ilovenorthshields Twitter @iluvnorthshields Instagram @ilovenorthshields www.ilovenorthshields.com

Community

Gathering Stan Laurel

Demolition Tyne Brand

A gathering of Laurel and Hardy aficionados hosted by the local chapter, the Beau Chumps Tent, to celebrate the life of Stan Laurel, chat, share stories and take pictures on a special and poignant day. Sunday 23rd February will mark the 60th anniversary of the day Stan Laurel died, and to commemorate this a contingent of members of the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society – The Sons of the Desert – will be gathering at Stan’s statue in North Shields. Family lived in North Shields from 1895-1905. Special guest on the day will be Stan’s great nephew, Keith Woods from Blyth. No booking required! Just turn up on the day!

Demolition work has officially begun on the Tynen Brand site at the Fish Quay, North Shields, clearing the way for a new development of houses.

Spotted! Street Art By @rachaelmeyerweddingcelebrant on East Percy Street, just up the hill from Low Lights Tavern! Let us know if you've seen it too. #ilovenorthshields

Rumor has it...

Rumor has it… the old bingo hall in North Shields might be turning into a dance studio and theatre! If true, this could be a game changer for our town’s creative scene, bringing performances, classes, and endless opportunities. We’re keeping an ear out —stay tuned...

Share your news ilovenorthshields@outlook.com

King Fisher Sighting

Have you spotted the kingfisher in Northumberland Park? Sightings of this vibrant little bird have been reported near the water, delighting visitors with its electric blue and orange feathers.

Have you spotted one? Share your story—we’d love to hear about it!

Community

Fabulous Elves Spotted

Harbour House

Fabulous elves spotted at Cullercoats Bay! Braving the chilly waters, they’re making a splash to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity. Incredible spirit for an amazing cause—cheers to these local heroes!

Exciting things are happening at Harbour House in North Shields! Set to open in 2025, this creative hub will be home to a whole range of businesses, from independent studios to a wedding venue, cocktail bar, and even a bakery. One of the businesses to set up there is Northern Rye Bakery, which is moving into the space, expanding its presence and serving up its delicious, handcrafted goods. Harbour House is really going to be a game-changer for the town, bringing together a community of creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. It's all about collaboration and supporting one another.

Keep an eye on their progress by visiting harbourhousecollective.co.uk

NS800 Launch Peace Drone Captures Drone shots of the new Riverside Embankment Walkway, beautifully captured by the talented Peace Drone! This addition to North Shields seamlessly connects the town centre to the Fish Quay with stepfree access, offering scenic routes and incredible views!

The launch of North Shields 800 on 31 January was a fantastic success! Held at The Exchange 1856, Local performers and speakers shared exciting plans for the year, and the event wrapped up with tea, coffee, and cake, bringing the community together for a great start to the 800th-anniversary celebrations.

Autism Support Group

New Micropub Proposal

A new support group for adults with autism has started in North Shields, hosted by Autism Better Together (ABT) at the Tynemouth Scout Hut on Norfolk Street. This group focuses on providing a welcoming environment for autistic adults.

Facebook @BetterTogetherAutism

A new micropub, 'The Tipsy Pig,' is proposed for North Shields, offering community-focused space with locally sourced drinks. The proposal has been granted.

News LAUNCH NORTH SHIELDS 800 North Shields 800 is a community effort, with the people of the town working together to host a year of celebrations for its 800th anniversary.

North Shields was founded in 1225 as a village of simple huts called shiels on what is now the Fish Quay. The fishing port served Tynemouth Priory and later grew into a thriving harbour and town.

A programme of events has been selected to appeal to a wide range of audiences and to celebrate North Shields’ maritime, mining, railway and industrial heritage as well as its reputation as a vibrant destination for arts and culture and a thriving location for business.

It will include a spectacular parade of sail and a blessing of the fishing fleet, a parade along the Fish Quay, exhibitions, street art murals, heritage projects and creative collaborations. It will bring performing arts to the streets, stage events at local venues and capture and record memories of the town in years gone by.

It is being organised by the community-led North Shields 800 Committee which has been meeting since mid-2023, chaired by Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell. Its members include heritage groups, the fishing industry, the arts and cultural sector, charities, churches, community groups, local venues and businesses.

The celebrations coincide with an ambitious regeneration programme for North Shields and the Fish Quay. At the same time, North Shields Cultural Quarter is helping the creative economy grow, with support from North East Combined Authority.

Visit the website for the latest info: www.northshields800.com TIP: North Shields 800 Fact of the Day Follow @northshields800 on Facebook and Instagram for a daily 'Fact of the Day' throughout 2025.

Monthly column by Bazoox aka Sean G Cleland After thrashing Leicester City 4-O at St James' Park in the EPL, United then progressed into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a comprehensive victory over Brentford under the Gallowgate lights.

Alexander Isak's first ever hat-trick for Newcastle helped us to another 4-0 victory at Portman Road, against a completely outclassed Ipswich Town.

Aston Villa were then also easily disposed of 3-0 at home on Boxing Day. Next up was a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. This is a fixture that we had only twice seen victory in 52 years.

Eddie's boys proceeded to put on a masterclass in the first half hour of the game that literally blew the Salford club out of the water.

2-0 up at half-time, we the original and true United, took our foot off the pedal in the second period and coasted to another comfortable win.

Five days later we visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Spurs. The game got off to a frenetic start with the hosts taking an early lead, before they were pegged back by an Anthony 'Flash' Gordon equaliser a couple of minutes later.

United were soon on top and led at half-time 2-1, courtesy of another goal from our very own Rolls Royce Alexander Isak.

Spurs had the majority of possession in the second half but United were well organised and resilient once again.

Our game management has dramatically improved, and I think this is probably testimony to hard work put in on the training ground and better all round tactical awareness.

We had our second visit to North London three days later to take on Mikel Arteta's highly fancied Arsenal side at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

The Gunners duly had their early bravado knocked out of them before half-time by a player they would just love to have amongst their own Arsenal, the irrepressible 'Ice Cold' Alex.

Flash might also not be a 'miracle' just yet, but five minutes into the second half and United were 2-0 up with young Mr Gordon popping up on the scoresheet again.

To see him doing the Thierry Henry celebration in front of the travelling Geordies really was a sight to behold and added salt into Arsenal's wounds.

We now go into the second-leg with a two goal advantage and dare I say it one foot in the Wembley Final in March.

Newcastle are cruising along nicely and as I type currently sit 5th in the Premier League table. What's not to like eh?

Community Here's a little list to whet your appetites.

United have scored 17 goals, only conceding twice in our last seven games.

Alexander Isak is on another red hot scoring streak.

Sandro Tonali has shook off any rust that was there after his long suspension and is playing like a man possessed.

Our two young England full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are playing like seasoned veterans.

Big Dan Burn is having the kind of season that will probably define his whole career.

The cultured Sven Botman is back in the team after his ACL injury.

There are so many positives at the moment and I haven't even mentioned the contributions of the likes of Jacob Murphy, captain Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and more recently Martin Dubravka.

Whether Martin will still be at Newcastle come the end of the January transfer window is up for debate.

I expect United to offload fringe players and think we will bring in one significant signing. Due to PSR most of our business will be left until the summer.

By the time this article is published we will be preparing for that semi-final second leg against Arsenal.

In the meantime we have an FA Cup 3rd Round tie against Bromley to overcome at St James' Park, followed by four very winnable EPL fixtures.

Eddie Howe will hopefully ensure that the lapses in concentration and general complacency that hindered us earlier in this campaign, will remain a thing of the past.

Confidence is a wonderful attribute to have and can sometimes propel you to places that you never ever thought were possible.

At this very moment the Newcastle United set-up and their adoring public both have it in abundance.

VIDEO GAMES

BY OLIVE BISHOP Looking for something fun to play on Valentine's Day? With its gorgeous neon art, pulsing soundtrack and engaging co-operative gameplay, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime should do the trick!

Venture through the bright hues of space with your team as you explore each level in order to rescue trapped creatures - and by creatures, we’re talking adorable cats, foxes, bunnies and more. Your vibrant ship features multiple stations to defend your ship from the dangers of space and navigate it through the solar system.

Despite what the name may imply, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime isn’t just for the romantics.

With the option to play with anywhere between 14 players, this endearing galactic adventure is wildly fun for partners, families and friends alike unlike other couch co-op games, it’s also incredibly fun to play solo. In single-player mode, you will be accompanied by an animal companion who you can order to different stations in the blink of an eye (and believe me, the computer controlled pet is much better at defending the ship than I was!).

This short and sweet co-op experience will keep you hooked throughout its playtime and maybe even more. Experiment with different ships, upgrade combinations and even different real life teammates in a fresh playthrough if you just can’t get enough.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC and Mac.

@katiestewartartist

COLLAB 'Metro Musings' began as a hobby for I Love North Shields writer Suzanne Coulson during her daily metro commutes. What started as a way to pass the time on packed trains soon blossomed into a collection of happenings, observations, quirks, and the occasional metro mishap.

Suzanne met the talented illustrator Katie Stewart at an I Love North Shields meeting and a match was made - with Katie being introduced as one renowned for sketching metro passengers. Katie, a visual storyteller, brings the colorful characters and moments of metro life alive, adding an extra layer of charm to Suzanne's words.

Together, they’ve created a delightful snapshot of our beloved transport system. @thesuzycblogspot | @katiestewartartist

Community

METRO MUSING THE MUSING BEGINS

By Suzanne Coulson @thesuzycblogspot | Illustration by @katiestewartartist It’s a cold, wintery morning and I’ve sprinted to Percy Main Metro station, hauling my full figure up the stairs two at a time like I’m training for the Olympics. My eyes desperately try to bend light around corners to spot the electronic signage, which twinkles the glorious word: ‘Due’. My ears, meanwhile, are blessed by the familiar dulcet tones of the tannoy lass announcing, “The next train to arrive on Platform 2 is for…” Get in!

I’ve made it!

I collapse triumphantly onto a seat, gasping for breath and taking stock of my fellow passengers. There’s few curious glances in my direction, but most are too preoccupied with their own worlds—headphones blasting, iPhones swiping, Samsungs tapping and an odd newspaper rustling in defiance of modern tech. What are they all looking for? What do they expect to find? Meaning? Salvation? A train timetable that actually runs on time?

At Wallsend, an older gent sidles on, settles in front of me, looks up and smiles. Humans do exist after all. The Metro chugs along, and soon I’m at Monument, poised to make my transfer to Central. I position myself firmly near the door as an indicator I’m due to get off. Behind me edges a woman, whose entire existence suddenly seems to hinge on getting where she’s going faster than me. Her slight fidgeting soon escalates to subtle manoeuvring, inching ever closer, as though proximity to the door earns her a time bonus.

Pre Metro Suzy - nice, apologetic, conflict-avoiding (ok maybe not so much for those who know me) - almost moved aside out of habit. But not today.

Not now. Not as a new and improved Metro Maverick Suzy.

I made my stance. I squared my shoulders. I became an immovable force.

Undeterred, she made her move—a swift brush of her arm past me, fingers twitching for the door button. As the button turned green, she lunged, full of misguided triumph. But she hadn’t counted on my secret weapon: my bountiful backside.

With a well-timed shuffle I blocked her advance with maximum cheek (literally). The doors slid open, and I stepped off the train first, exactly as intended! That said, she then zoomed past me on the platform, but I just smiled to myself, especially when sidling up next to her on the escalator that she’d misjudged and stayed on the right hand ‘non walker’ side.

Relishing the fact that we were neck and neck, I couldn't resist a little parting shot of “Got you far, didn’t it?” before I then continued as the fastest walker ever up the escalator!

Hiya, I’m Katie Stewart –artist and general oddity!

I currently work in education but studied art at Universityandjustlovemakingthings; from sketches and collages, to silly conversations and puns. Thefirstthingpeopletendtonoticeaboutme is my collection of funky earrings and love of bright colours–whichareusedalotintheart I make. I like to draw people or items that I find interesting e.g., this cowboy drawing -inspired by someone wearing a wide-brimmed hat at the metro station.

Drawing on my daily commute is one of the best ways for me to exercise my whimsy, reign in perfectionism, and keep being creative whilst working full time. Over time I ink and colourthese sketches, photocopy them and use their varieties in collages. It creates a really funfeedback loop where ideas bounce off one another and grow alongside a good sense of humourand resilience for when things don’t work out –which, for me, is a canny metaphor for how I view community. I love this magazine like I love North Shields and having the opportunity to illustrate other people’s contributions and the people living andworkingaroundhereis decidedly fabulous.

Me J

You canfindmoreofmeat @katiestewartartist on Instagram

Louise Scott

NEW TO SHIELDS LOUISE SCOTT Text & Photography Jake Rusby Feeling ‘free’ while confined to a wheelchair might sound impossible. But thanks to a move to North Shields, Louise Scott – who lives with Multiple Sclerosis – has discovered it can be a reality.

A progressive condition that can drastically affect motor skills, M.S has completely changed the way Louise lives day to day.

But North Shields, where her speciallyadapted home overlooks the Tyne, has given her a new lease of life.

Put simply, she says: ‘I feel like I’m me again.

One hundred percent me’.

As well as having a bungalow suited to her needs, the new wheelchair-friendly ramp leading down to the Fish Quay is situated just yards from her front door.

What is almost more important than the physical freedom, is the mental freedom it has provided.

I am interviewing her in her kitchen, over a not-so-ordinary kitchen table. Overlooked by colourful wallpaper designed by her artist friend Rachel Macarthur, we chat with elbows resting on the same surface as a collection of beautifully-painted blocks of wood.

This is because Louise’s kitchen has taken on a second life as her studio, with pots and pans sitting side-by-side with acrylic paints and moulding clay. The 44-year-old has found her creative spark again, pursuing her passion as an artist from the comfort of her own home.

Originally from Stockton-Upon-Tees, Louise moved to the North East – Fenham – in 2000 when she undertook a course in Fine Art at Northumbria University.

After university she worked in an art materials shop before she began studying teacher training as part of a PGCE. In 2010, she became one of the 7,000 people a year diagnosed with M.S in the UK. .

Community A single mum to son Robin, 11, she moved from Forest Hall to North Shields in June 2024 in a bid to find a suitable home: “My relationship ended and my M.S had progressed to the point that I was no longer on my feet, and I needed somewhere suited to my changing needs,” she says.

“It seemed like North Shields was the only place in the North East somewhere like this existed! I was so excited when I came and had a look round and was told I was at the top of the list to get it; and looking back now it completely changed my life.

vol. 1

“That night I went home and ordered the wallpaper as a celebration! I was forced into the move because of something negative, but it has ended up being the best thing I could have done.”

She adds: “Because of my condition I’m not able to work, so I’m extremely grateful I kept going with producing artwork. It is pretty much the only thing I can do now and I can adapt it to suit my changing capabilities.

“Rather than big canvases, which wouldn’t be practical for me, I like to produce work that’s made up of component parts that can be played around with, working at table I can access.

“Where I am I feel calm and happy, and that puts me in the best headspace to create art.

“Art has stayed with me through everything, and I get so much out of it. I’d be lost without it.”

Looking forward, Louise has been invited to contribute to more art exhibitions, and hopes success in her chosen field will soon come her way: “It’s like when you hear famous comedians talking about the years’ work they put in before becoming famous, I feel like it can be like that within the art world.

“It takes a long time to hone your craft and make the right connections, but it’s one of the things I’m really excited about since I moved to North Shields.

“It seems like there is such a great vibe about the place now, and I am excited to be part of it.”

Instagram @louise_scottart

Your Stories

LOCAL LEGEND SHEILA HIRSCH Sheila’s story UK’s first female trawler skipper?

Sheila Hirsch is a legend on North Shields Fish Quay. Believed to have been the country’s first female trawler skipper, she was a woman in a man’s world, fishing all over the UK and in America, including in the Bering Straits between Russia and Alaska.

Known on the quay as ‘Big Sheil’, she retired more than 20 years ago after working full time at sea for 27 years, as well as several years part-time.

Her love of the sea began during school holidays in Oban where her grandfather was a fisherman. Girls didn’t go to sea and her grandfather said he wouldn’t take her until she could tie a ‘bowline’, a strong knot.

As a Girl Guide, she learnt how to tie knots and just before her summer holidays, aged almost 11, she could manage a bowline.

Before her grandfather got the chance to keep his promise, she sneaked out of their cottage and hid under a net on his boat. The next morning, while at sea, she was found, already feeling seasick.

Her grandfather gave her a box to sit on and a bucket of herring to gut and clean. He thought this – and the seasickness - would put her off but far from it. Sheila was hooked!

Sheila’s family moved to the North East with her father’s work. When she finished school, she went to university. She wanted to study to be a vet, but her father said that wasn’t women’s work. She had an interest in art and design, so she ended up reluctantly starting a degree course in fine art which she didn’t finish.

Community

However, Sheila didn’t go into fishing until she was in her 20s, after a few jobs, including as a diver on the Coral Reef in Australia, helping to clear the giant star fish, called Crown of Thorns, that were destroying the reef.

On returning home, she worked a boat taking anglers out. A skipper asked if she wanted to try fishing and she started as a “deckie”, later taking her skipper exams. It was hard being a woman in a man’s world – “you had to make yourself indispensable or prove you were better than them”. She proved her worth and was accepted by the men she worked with, although some, especially those from Scotland, believed a woman should not even be seen on the quay, let along on a fishing boat.

Sheila was fearless, even going was over the wall – overboard - three times did not put her off. Usually, the sea is so rough that when someone goes over the side, they do not survive.

The first time was in calm waters outside Eyemouth and her biggest worry was the other fishermen finding out that she had been in the water. The second was in a howling gale and rough sea at Fraserburgh and she ended up in hospital with four broken fingers and hypothermia. The third was when she fell between the boat and the quay at North Shields – a big fella pulled her by the straps of her bib and brace and she came out of the water like “a cork out of a bottle”.

Sheila’s story is on a display board at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre.

Sheila

Creators

@Sarah Jean

MEET CREATOR MARIANNE Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your day-to-day life?

I am a business owner living in Whitley Bay, with a creative studio in Harbour House, North Shields. I design + code bespoke websites + apps, as well as teaching yoga + offering astrology consultations. When I’m not working, you’ll often find me sketching with a coffee in a local cafe, walking on the beach with a podcast, or in a yoga studio somewhere.

What inspired you to become a content creator/writer for I Love North Shields?

I love the idea of having a platform where local people can collaborate - there’s so much talent in this area! I’ve been so impressed by the consistency and the quality of the publication so far.

Can you tell us about your favourite place in North Shields and why it holds special meaning for you? I love the little walk around the bay from the Fish Quay to Haven beach. I adore the ferry ride to and from South Shields. I’m here for that stunning view, and the life it inspires.

What type of content do you enjoy creating the most, and what message do you hope to share with our readers? I am a visual designer, so I love to layout pages to make them engaging but also easy to read. I also think it’s so important to promote local events, because a lot of the existing listing platforms are really difficult to navigate - we have so much to explore in this area, and I’m always keen to help get people joining in events and group activities.

What does community pride mean to you, and how does your work contribute to it?

It’s a celebration of talent, and an opportunity for everyone to contribute to culture, but alongside that is a responsibility to try to protect the planet - that’s my focus right now in my design business.

Over the coming issues you will learn more about our ILNS community content creators !

Can you share a memorable project or piece you’ve worked on for I Love North Shields? I have put together the events listings for most issues of ILNS so far!

How can people reach you?

I’m on instagram as @drishti.design + @theyogiastrologer, and you’ll find me on LinkedIn as Marianne Butler - I’d love to connect!

MEET PHOTOGRAPHER MARK I’m Mark, a photographer and all round ‘creative’ based on the North East coast. I grew up in London but I call the North East my home as I have lived here for over 20 years now.

Having spent over a decade photographing rental properties I’m switching things up; I’m on an adventure to discover, capture and share with the world all of the amazing interior spaces that people put their heart and soul into creating. I want to tell their story and visually showcase their beauty and personality as best I can. From holiday lets and home renovations to independent businesses and historical buildings, I have a passion for all variety of architecture and interior design styles.

You can check out my interior photography portfolio at Coastal Captures or get in touch with me directly: mark@coastalcaptures.co.uk.

Seven years ago, I discovered I am Autistic, at the time it was known as Asperger’s Syndrome but for various reasons it’s now categorised as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which encapsulates a whole range of neurodivergence. Finding this out in my mid thirties was a big turning point for me and helped make sense of so much in my life. Since then, it’s been a journey of self-discovery, learning to unmask and embrace who I really am (I’ve read sooo many books!). I’m always happy to talk about my experiences with anyone curious about autism.

My autism gives me a unique way of experiencing the world and aids my creativity. Coastal Captures is just my current focus and only one part of my artistic output. My background is in graphic design, I once ran a design studio and street art gallery in Middlesbrough and have worked on all sorts of community projects too, you can see a flavour of that side of me on www.mrarteest.com. I’m always seeking new ways of using my strengths and skills to communicate, tell a story and inspire others to explore their own creativity or other strengths.

More recently, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with I Love North Shields on several photography projects, including capturing the historical Low Lights Tavern and The Exchange 1856. Being part of these projects has been a great way to highlight the stories and some of the hidden history of these cherished local spots and I look forward to discovering and sharing many more locations around North Shields.

If you’d like to connect with me for interior photography projects or just to chat, here’s how you can reach me: Website: coastalcaptures.co.uk Email: mark@coastalcaptures.co.uk Instagram: @coastalcapturesne WhatsApp: 07769 348 589

MEET POETRY EDITOR RICHARD O'BRIEN There’s a new walkway in North Shields, between the upper town and the Fish Quay. You might have seen something about it on Facebook. I’ve been following the discussion for months, somewhat amazed at how much controversy it was able to generate – and around the end of December I was able to check it out for myself.

I like the new walkway. It’s accessible, it’s convenient, and I like how the hulking, reddish metal wall with the young trees staked against it seems to bring nature and industry into close proximity. That’s a quality I’ve seen all over the North East since moving here in 2020: the way that the histories of people and labour are so closely interwoven with the region’s blue and green landscapes, the feeling that even in built-up areas something truly wild is only a short distance away.

If new infrastructure projects offer one way of finding your way around a place – and in the process, finding out what people think about its past and future – then writing is another. I grew up in a small village in the South of Lincolnshire which no one has written very much about at all, and perhaps that’s shaped my belief that it’s important for every place to see itself reflected on the page, to document its own stories and landmarks. Before coming to North Shields I lived in Birmingham, where for two years I was the city poet laureate – a role that got me thinking about how place-based writing can help us get oriented in a landscape emotionally and culturally as well as physically.

When I heard that I Love North Shields was starting a print publication, I knew I wanted to be part of it because it seemed to approach the town with a sense of celebration – to take pride in what the place already has going for it, and to provide a platform for those of us who live here to talk about what matters now. And I wanted to edit a poetry column because I wanted literature to be part of that conversation, to hear – especially as a newcomer to the area – what kinds of stories about landscape, heritage and culture the people here felt like telling.

Over the last few months, it’s my hope that these pages have introduced you to a range of voices and perspectives on our region. Unsurprisingly, the sea has featured heavily: from Alex Skinner’s ‘The Lighthouse,’ which sheds its own light on the ‘stoic face’ of a ‘guardian of the coastline’ weathered by ‘withstanding the harshest of conditions,’ to the histories of seacoal (Andrew Mellon, paying tribute to the photographer Chris Killip) and contraband (John Hartley’s sharp, poised piece about ‘illicit goods’ being lowered by night.)

A few minutes from the base of the walkway, I found myself at the Gut, the water crowded with gulls and cormorants, listening to the kkk-shaa sound of a seal popping its head up to breathe: there was a whole ecosystem here, and for a moment I was part of it. Nature has been a constant presence in the columns, too, from S. J. O’Brien’s detailed observations of bird life in a cold country (‘a pod of eiders lazily float in sparse rafts near the Gut’) to Megan Pattie’s playful evocation of ‘spuggies’ hiding behind the ‘twitching curtain’ of a hedgerow, ‘familiar as fenceposts.’

Elsewhere we’ve seen reflections of the built environment: in the last issue, Wayne Medford vividly evoked the ‘1970s optimism and expectation’ of Margaret Calvert’s typograph for the Metro network, while Mark James Hammond’s ‘Punk Lump’ presented a sharply surreal vision of ‘bad bairns’ climbing on a metal statue for ‘a concrete sports day outside Iceland.’ Ryan Siddall’s ‘No Milk Today’ took an acerbic look at the 1980s, shifting from local to national politics as a small act of nihilistic rebellion becomes ‘our very own Falklands,’ and Nev Clay showed us childhood memories of Christmas trees lit up on the roof of the Formica factory.

Last month, I chaired a discussion with Nev and Novyi Lef at Baba Yaga’s Hut, where we explored exactly this question: how songwriters, much like the poets in these pages, approach the challenges and opportunities of writing about contemporary urban space.

Across the board in 2024, I’ve loved discovering the talent and creativity of local authors, some appearing in these pages in print for the first time. Now I’m looking forward to hearing from more of you in this historic anniversary year. Eight hundred years on from its first appearance in the history books, what does North Shields and the wider region mean to you? What stories still need to be told? I’m keen to read and publish work from a diverse range of voices and to get the widest possible perspective on the town today. Send your poems to craftsandvessels@gmail.com if you’d like them to be considered for a future issue – and maybe I’ll see you on the walkway, or in the Facebook comments section, sometime soon.

Poetry

Supatanka

By Raine Rutherford

A could only imagine it as a livin, breathin thing. Young an tender steel bent inta shape. Through winta, and summa, and winta. We play kickaboot in the alley and it would watch us through our game. Like a hulking beast bisecting the lane, the Tyne's metal whale. When you went down to work, A'd sometimes follow, skipping along the cobbles and whistling with the swallows. A would watch till I lost you in the tangle of hydraulic veins and thought of you in our kitchen, blocking sun from the window pane. You worked everyday till the thing was loosed, and the river was still again.

Poetry

Wayne Medford writes both poetry and non-fiction. He is a member of Cullerpoets, and North Tyneside Writers’ Circle. He is also a member of the North East Group of the Society of Authors.

Your Stories

@TYNEMOUTH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

WAS NORTH SHIELDS ENGLAND’S MOST DRUNKEN TOWN?

By Sue Wilkinson During its heyday, North Shields was known as “the most drunken town in England”.

A dubious reputation gained in the 1800s when the town had more than 200 pubs serving thousands of rowdy customers.

The Low Town was a maze of winding streets and alleyways. One writer described it as “the lounging place of Jack Ashore”, the stereotypical drunken sailor. Renowned for muggings, murders and prostitution, its dimly-lit taverns were no place for a respectable person!

Today much has changed. Names like The Fountainhead, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Aquatic Arms and The Gardeners have been lost in time. The Northumberland Arms and The Chain Locker have been converted into smart apartments or business offices.

The Golden Fleece, once an office for North Sea pilots, and latterly The Port Hole pub, is now a design office. Look above the main doorway and you can still see the golden fleece logo.

I live on the site of an old herring smokehouse close to Clive Street, where there were once 25 pubs on just one street. So let’s step back in time and go for a walk along the riverside to find somewhere for a drink. We’re going to be spoiled for choice!

The Northumberland Arms, once known as ‘The Jungle’, was one of the lower town’s most infamous pubs.

“You divvent want to go inside after dark, bonny lass,” was the advice given to me by a work colleague in the late 1970s. Undeterred, I ventured inside and felt like a lamb to the slaughter. It was renowned for its rowdy locals and “women of ill repute”.

Originally designed as a town house for the Duke of Northumberland, by 1822 it was being run as the Northumberland Arms pub. The new landlords kept the Duke’s collection of stuffed animal heads lined up along its walls, which earned it the nickname, ‘The Jungle’.

Your Stories Next on our route is the long demolished Cock Tavern on Clive Street, infamous for cock fighting in the early 1800s. Then on to Liddell Street where you’ll still see the Prince of Wales, with its large red “dolly’“ outside. Dating back to 1674, it was once a favourite meeting place of the Royal Order of the Buffaloes.

Further along Bell Street no trace remains of The Swedish Arms, named after the large numbers of Swedish seamen who arrived in the 1850s. The once busy Seven Stars was another popular draw for sailors coming off the boats on the quay. Today it’s been swept away to be replaced by modern flats.

Nearby was the “Cabbage Patch”, a notorious drinking den and the nearest thing North Shields had to an illegal “shabine”. This unlawful watering hole was hidden inside a vegetable store room in William Wight’s former grocery emporium. Fishermen would come in off the boats after an overnight shift and enjoy drinking with their mates inside the store room, perched on sacks and crates of food. A blind eye was turned to this overnight carousing, and it was easy for the men to sneak out just before the store opened in the morning. Today, Wight’s has sadly closed and has been transformed into a legal drinking establishment – Allard’s on the Quay.

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Let’s carry on walking to the Fishnet Tavern, formerly known as the Staiths House, and before that the New Dolphin. In 1998, the Star of Peace fishing boat picked up a large whale bone in its nets, which still stands outside the pub.

Turn up Brewhouse Bank and head inside the Low Lights Tavern, said to be the oldest pub in North Shields. During Victorian times it was sometimes used for inquests due to its proximity to the waterfront. It’s gained massive street credibility through its association with musicians - most notably Sam Fender - and real ale aficionados.

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If you can manage another drink, head up Brewhouse Bank to the How Do You Do on Hudson Street. It was originally the site of a pub called the King’s Head, notorious for a court case involving the unlawful harbouring of bottles of rum which had evaded customs duty in the early 1940s. In the 1970s it was called the Wooden Dolly, one of my alltime favourite North Shields’ pubs.

At this point you might like to stop for some food. I recommend the panoramic view across the Tyne from the pub restaurant.

Read the longer feature on the Tammy Tour Guide blog www.tammytourguide.wordpress.com Look out for part two of this series next month… @TYNEMOUTH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

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@TYNEMOUTH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

MEET ME ON THE CORNER

By Keith Bruce Shields is not the same any more, you often hear people say. Usually followed by; there used to be a pub on every corner. Which isn’t really true. Loads of our most famous pubs weren’t actually on corners. The Fountain Head, for instance, was in the middle of Bedford Street about where Costa Coffee is now.

Just further down the street, on the opposite side of the road where the redundant bus shelters are, was Uncle Tom’s Cabin. One of Shields’s most notorious pubs, known to some as ‘The Flying Stool’ due to the robust debates that were often held in there. But it certainly wasn’t on a corner.

Nor was the town’s most infamous drinking emporium, The Northumberland Arms. Or The Jungle to you and me. Hardly a cornerstone of civil morality.

Although, to be fair, quite a lot of our long lost pubs were on corners. Like The Victoria, The Clock Vaults, The Queens Head and The General Havelock. All well known licenced premises which called Last Orders for the last time many years ago.

According to a survey by the Campaign for Real Ale, eighteen pubs close every week in this country. It’s all there in black and white. But does the CAMRA report gives us the full picture? There have been developments. We could focus on all the pubs and micro-bars that are opening.

Although not strictly a pub, the cafe bar at The Exchange 1856 is an impressive venue to dramatically quaff a few ales. It’s an old brewing term, but I think it’s got something to do with the culture.

Quite a number of brand new bars have appeared too. The Two Pennies and Basement No. 1 share a handsome building near Northumberland Square.

Baba Yagas opened in Church Way as recently as August. Dickas cashed in by turning a bank at the bottom of Bedford Street into a bar. That generated some interest, to coin a phrase.

At the other end of the same road, established for a few years now, is The Enigma Tap. Which is code for proper beer.

So, the scene changes. Our night time economy has evolved into something completely different. A lot of the older pubs simply got left behind. They were extremely rough, and wouldn’t be tolerated these days. The sort of places where the dominoes went into injury time, Kate Adie collected the glasses and the fresh sawdust was actually last nights furniture.

There was never a pub in Shields called The Doolally Tap, but there were plenty of contenders.

Here in North Shields quite a few brand new watering holes have emerged recently. The Pow Burn morphed into The North Star and Oddfellows became a reincarnation of The Seven Stars., but there were plenty of contenders.

FORMERLY THE QUEENS HEAD ON THE JUNCTION OF CHURCH WAY AND ALBION ROAD.

Your Stories

REVIVE OR RETIRE? THE PRINCE OF WALES Ah, the Prince of Wales—once the heart and soul of North Shields, now a slightly sad, empty shell of its former self. It’s been closed for ages, and the big question is: what’s next?

There’s been talk of everything from a fancy modern makeover to the ‘strictly Samuel Smith’s’ route, where mobiles are banned and swearing is outlawed. But does that really match the vibe of today’s community, or would it be a step too far back in time?

Let’s talk about Samuel Smith’s Brewery. It’s got some interesting rules, like no phones, no tablets, no laptops. If you need to check your messages, tough luck—step outside. And forget about having a cheeky singalong or watching the footie—these pubs are quieter than a library on exam day. Oh, and swearing? Not in this house. Staff have to enforce this, creating an atmosphere that’s, well, a little bit too “good manners” for some.

Now, back to the Prince of Wales. For years, it’s just been sitting there, waiting for someone to give it the love it deserves. One former manager applicant spilled the beans, saying: “We were offered £23k a year (before tax), but we had to pay for staff and cleaners out of that.

And don’t even talk about days off—it was like tag-team pub management!” So, no surprise it’s still closed, right?

So, here’s the million-dollar question: Should the Prince of Wales stick with Samuel Smith’s oldschool charm, or is it time to think outside the (pint) glass? A modern pub, a community hangout, a quirky museum, or maybe...

Let us know what you think—join the conversation on our Facebook group @ilovenorthshields or send us an email! ilovenorthshields@outlook.com

LIFE’S A BEACH

By Mim Robson @mimrobsonartist Winter can be a bit of a slog and by February I’m more than ready spring, flowers, and the switch of predominant colour from grey to green. I often am inspired by nature and incorporate it into my creative work, so after all the colour spring, summer and autumn have to offer, winter can feel a little bit of a sparse palette.

But we are so fortunate to live by the sea here in North Shields. Each day the sea offers up a different set of colours, spanning blues, greens, greys, and at either end of the day it can reflect yellows, oranges, pinks, purples and all in between.

So if the sea is a paint palette, could the beach be a canvas? A really big one?! I believe so and have spent many an hour drawing on beaches. All you need is a rake... and a stick and some string would come in handy too.

Drawing on the beach on a large scale is something I used to do a lot of.

Oddly enough, this was an activity I got into before I lived anywhere near a beach, and I don’t do a lot of it now... but I encourage you to have a go - it’s easier than it looks.

First, find a beach. No excuses there folks, but if you need a nudge, head towards King Edwards Bay or Cullercoats where there’s plenty of sand, a bit of space, and a nice high spot to view your artwork from at the end.

Next, check the tide times. You want as much time as possible before the tide comes in, so it’s worth starting whilst the tide isstill going out, so it’s not coming in as soon as you start drawing.

Once you’re there, try your rake out... you can get rakes which adjust in width which means you can change the lines you work with, but any old rake will do. You can start by free drawing, creating patterns and shapes. But an easy way to create something simple and effective is to draw concentric circles and work out from there. Here’s where the stick and string come in - tie the string to the stick at one end, and to the rake at the other. Push the stick in the sand, or get someone to hold it, and rake around in a circle keeping the string taught. This will give you a near enough perfect circle to work into or out from.

Your Stories

Be prepared to walk miles on the beach, and be there for hours, to get the most effective artwork - the bigger the better! My advice is not to be tempted to look at it from above until you’ve finished - we don’t get many surprises in life and it’s a real treat to be surprised by your very own self after all your hard work raking around on the sands. This is where sticking with it pays off - if you have managed to keep going until it’s really big, seeing the scale of what you’ve made at the end is really exciting.

Don’t worry about people walking on it, there are footprints all over the beach and they wont affect your artwork when viewed from above. Let people know that they can share the space you’re working on (but often people leave you to it anyway).

When you’ve finished, it’s likely the tide will be on it’s way in. A lot of people ask me when I’m making beach art if I will be sad when the sea washes it away, after hours on the beach creating it. But really, for me, seeing the sea take it back is one of the best parts. It reminds me that everything is temporary, and it’s quite empowering to be able to let go, see bigger things than me at force, and feel that the value of creative work isn’t always in the end result, but in the process. Aside from, or perhaps because of all that, the tide changing your artwork as you watch, and ultimately washing it away completely, is really beautiful and a great opportunity for reflection and stillness something else that can be hard to come by these days.

So give in to the tide, enjoy the process, have some fun, get your steps in, and soak up the sounds and colours of the sea and all the beach has to offer, even in February.

Oh, and if you do have a go, please send photos for me to see at @mimrobsonartist on Instagram - or email them over at ilovebigboats@hotmail.com - enjoy!

Featured

THE LEGACY OF SCARLET WOMEN

By Ruby-Jane In North Shields, the story of the publication Scarlet Women is more than just a chapter in history; it serves as a powerful reminder of our community’s spirit and the ongoing fight for women's rights. A modest house on Washington Terrace, an ordinary street in our often-overlooked northern town, became the birthplace of a movement that raised awareness about women’s issues, violence, and marginalisation—topics still relevant today.

Before the Scarlet Women publications are archived at the Northumberland Archives, I had the privilege of speaking with Penny Remfry, one of the key women involved in its creation in the 1970s. Scarlet Women emerged after the 1976 Women’s Liberation Conference in Tyneside, where the local Coast Women’s group organized a workshop to find out if other women’s groups around the country had an issue with men not taking women’s concerns seriously. This led to the formation of the newsletter and the start of the Scarlet Women publication.

Penny recalled the frustration of women in political and activist groups, who were often patronised by men who would “pat women on the head” and tell them to “wait until after the revolution” for their issues to be addressed.

Scarlet Women aimed to provide a platform for women’s voices, hoping to encourage discussion about how to best challenge male domination in political spaces.

I'm Ruby-Jane, a writer born and raised in North Shields. Current studying Classical Studies at the University of Manchester.

Scarlet Women was published from Penny’s home on Washington Terrace, encouraging voices from various backgrounds, many of whom were involved in political movements. They explored the connections between socialism and feminism and brought in voices from around the world. Scarlet Women was just one of the Coast Women’s Group’s activities. They were actively involved in the community, including starting the Women’s Aid refuge, initially based in Borough Road, they published a newsletter called Shieldswomen, in contrast with the name of the ferry at the time, the ‘Shieldsman.’ Some individuals were also involved in setting up the Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre (now Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland). Scarlet Women was about action as well as ideas.

Featured Penny explained that the name Scarlet Women was chosen because it was “challenging to the image of women.” The term “scarlet woman” has historically been used to describe women who defy societal norms, and the name reflected the anger women felt about being ignored. The newsletter focused on issues such as women’s reproductive rights, sexuality, economic independence, and violence against women, with a global perspective. Contributors to the newsletter came from differing perspectives and so it helped to spark important conversations within the Women’s Liberation Movement.

Although the publication was produced locally, many of the women involved were not from the area. Penny noted that the women’s movement in the North-East wasn’t as prominent as it was in other parts of the country. In the North-East, the area was male-dominated, with a strong industrial focus, and many women struggled to achieve financial independence. This challenge persists today, with the average weekly wage for a woman in the North-East at £569, compared to the national average of £652.

When asked if the social revolution had been achieved, Penny simply said, “No.” She emphasized that women’s issues should be regarded as equally important as economic issues. The Scarlet Women group saw patriarchy and capitalism as systems that worked together to oppress people, especially women.

Reflecting on Scarlet Women’s legacy, Penny noted that although progress has been made for women, many issues remain the same, especially the issue of violence against women. “Violence and the threat of it is what keeps women down,” she explained. This is still a significant issue in the North, where domestic abuse is more prevalent than the national average. Penny stressed the importance of continuing the fight for women’s liberation.

The internet has both created new challenges and provided new opportunities for feminist discourse. While harmful platforms have gained attention like Andrew Tate’s, positive spaces such as the FiLia newsletter offer women a chance to discuss critical issues. Penny believes that spaces like Scarlet Women are still needed today. “It would be great,” she said, “if there was a similar publication now.

Modern discussions often happen at an academic level, making them less accessible to the broader public.”

It’s fascinating to think that such revolutionary ideas were conceived and published in a small town like North Shields in the 1970s.

For the women involved, it wasn’t just a task—it was part of their social lives. These women weren’t simply producing a publication out of obligation; they were engaging with the issues themselves and encouraging the sharing of perspectives and strategies with other feminist activists around the country. “Having a forum where women can talk about these things is really important,” Penny said. When Scarlet Women was started, women weren’t encouraged to discuss such topics. It was a revelation for many that these issues weren’t just individual problems, but shared experiences.

The rise of Scarlet Women from a small Northern town underscores the power of community-driven activism. It shows that meaningful contributions can come from anywhere, not just large cities with extensive media coverage. The publication sparked a broader conversation, reminding us that ideas from smaller areas can lead to meaningful change.

BEHIND THE SCENES PAUL STONEBANKS "WITH A ‘TO DO’ LIST AS LONG AS YOUR ARM, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND LOCAL BUSINESSMAN AND ENTREPRENEUR PAUL STONEBANKS REMARKABLY LAID BACK DURING OUR MEETING AT HIS LATEST SUCCESS STORY, THE EXCHANGE 1856"

BY CAROL DAVISON @yevphotography

Having agreed to give me a behind the scenes tour of the Grade II listed building, I was not expecting the man with such a hectic diary to be so free with his time, and yet I ended up spending almost three hours exploring every nook and cranny of this labyrinth of a development with Paul as my genial and enthusiastic guide.

Born in Percy Main in the 1970’s, his personal biography details a working-class upbringing, starting his first job delivering milk aged twelve and buying into his first business, a window cleaning round, aged fourteen.

Now CEO of Stonebanks Investments and with an OBE to his name, Paul is the epitome of ‘local lad made good.’

@yevphotography

After just eighteen months as the new custodian of The Exchange, the dedication of Paul and his team was recently recognised at the North Tyneside Business awards where they won the best new business award and were crowned ‘Business of the Year.’ Having seen the high standard of redevelopment for myself, it’s not hard to see why.

Leaving the familiar setting of Browns, the bar and restaurant area, Paul showed me around the rest of the venue. As we made our way through perfectly finished corridors and high spec staircases, his passion for restoring the building to its former glory was clear. Heritage colours, art deco wall lights and Victorian radiators gave the place a sophisticated feel.

@coastalcapturesne

Paul has been instrumental in all aspects of the renovation, from the paint colours to the pictures on the wall and his attention to detail was evident as he explained his intention to restore brass push plates and hinges on the doors.

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Featured Being a stone’s throw from North Shields Registry Office, it made perfect business sense to attract wedding parties to The Exchange, and with that in mind, Paul has created a one-stop shop. Amongst the numerous businesses who rent private office space in the building complex, there is a wedding dress maker and make-up artist. There is a hairdresser next door, and they even have a luxurious wedding house in Front Street, Tynemouth.

A roof space, once home to the building’s pigeons, has been transformed into The Loft, a stunning venue which is licenced for civil weddings, and the J. Dobson suite (named after the building’s architect) is a super stylish banqueting suite complete with original architectural features giving it a ‘Downton Abbey’ ballroom feel. It’s unsurprising that the diary is filling up with bookings as far as 2027.

The Auditorium downstairs with a 550 capacity was re-opened last year with Sting as its inaugural act. Thanks to an upgraded sound and lighting system and boutique style bar, The Exchange is proving a desirable venue, with 160 acts currently booked, ranging from popular musicians like Martin Kemp, to charity gigs and family friendly, affordable panto. Always looking to enhance, Paul outlined his plans to create an exclusive VIP section on the top tier.

@coastalcapturesne

Winding our way downstairs, I visited The Lounge, the newly opened café bar area. Warm, welcoming and situated on the corner of the building with outdoor seating, Paul explained that this will give The Exchange more visibility.

Progressing across the alleyway to the old ticket office, he described his plans to expand The Lounge into this area where cocktails would be served, with wine-tasting nights and a bit of a deli going on there too. “When will this be happening?” I asked, expecting a date early next year. “Oh, probably next week,” he replied nonchalantly.

Paul Stonebanks is a man who doesn’t sit still.

Every vacant space is a project and every empty corner a challenge. His success lies not just in his trusted team which includes wife Joanne and eldest son Cole, but in the fact that he always sees room for improvement; to make things bigger, better, more efficient. This is evident in the hugely expensive, but forwardthinking investment they have made into a state-of-the-art heating and lighting system and the soon-to-be-installed self-serve ticket machines.

But it isn’t just the shiny new fixtures and fittings which have made this place a success. Paul’s love of his hometown is paramount, and he wants to see it thrive. He sees The Exchange as an investment in his community, using local suppliers and craftspeople and employing local people. He describes positive comments from his customers as the thing that makes all the hard work worthwhile, and he loves the fact that when they have a show on, local bars and restaurants report an upsurge in trade. He views nearby businesses as colleagues rather than competitors.

Paul’s initial takeover of The Exchange in 2023 was not without controversy, the fears of losing a community theatre space resulting in a petition backed by ‘Equity’.

I feel sure that any such concerns should now be well and truly put to bed as the new look Exchange has not only retained that theatre space, but has already expanded and improved upon it, seeing the cultural heart of the town grow bigger and stronger with exciting plans for 2025 – but that’s a story for another day…..

Photo Credits Coastal Captures Instagram @coastalcapturesne Instagram @yevphotography @coastalcapturesne

SWEET MEMORIES HUNTER’S BAKERY

By Caroline Oswald I have always known my family had links with William Hunter’s bakery and grocer’s in North Shields. My Great Aunt Margaret was the secretary of the whole business for many years as well as managing the Roselyn Hall function room above the shop on Stephenson Street, where several memorable family parties were held. My Aunt, Ann Walton, née McGeorge, had a Saturday job at Hunter’s and she shared with me her recollections of a business that brought pleasure to so many in North Shields.

My Great Aunt Margaret started her working life at Isaac Black’s tailor’s shop on the corner of Saville Street and Bedford Street. Black later became Mayor of Tynemouth, contributing much to the community including the building of Tynemouth High School and setting up a boot and shoe fund to help the poorer children of the borough. His son, J.Wallace Black, was the editor of the ‘Shields Hustler’ newspaper, and my Aunt Ann still has a copy of the charmingly flattering article he wrote (pictured) about his friend William Hunter’s business. He includes a beautifully detailed description of the Roselyn Hall ballroom, in which he sings the praises of the North Shields tradesmen who contributed to its construction and decoration.

Margaret made friends with her colleague at Black’s shop, Gertie Watson. Gertie eventually went on to work at Walkers (The House of Quality), a department store on the corner of Stanley Street and Borough Road, and Margaret moved on to Hunter’s, where she remained for the rest of her career.

Known as a ‘Jack of all trades’, Margaret could be seen sitting at her desk through the front window of the premises on Stephenson Street, staying long into the night to order stock, organise functions, manage the books and produce hand-written itemised bills for groceries that had been delivered to homes all over Shields. William Hunter acquired what had been Yeeles building shop and yard on Stephenson Street, formerly run by G.A. Leck, when his business had outgrown its modest beginnings. He had begun baking bread and tea cakes in a small kitchen oven on Lawson Street in the west end of Shields in the 1930s.

Hunter then opened his first grocer’s shop and confectionery on Stephenson Street and, as detailed in Black’s article, his ‘good quality bread and appetising selection of dainty confections’ became quite renowned as favourite treats of the townsfolk. With a fleet of four delivery vans, no order was too big or small: “He would even come down with just one loaf and pop it in if you needed it”, my aunt explains.

The business quickly expanded, with branches on Lawson Street, Stephenson Street, Coburg Street, Charlotte Street, Queen Alexandra Road, West Percy Street, Spence Terrace, Verne Road and Preston Road, in the building that Keel Row Books later occupied for many years. Aunt Ann’s mother, Winnie, worked in the branch on Coburg Street. My Great Aunt Elsie and her husband, Jack, lived above the shop on Verne Road, where a family friend, Margaret Woodhouse, née Proffit, was the manager.

According to Black’s article, the pinnacle of Hunter’s success was the completion of the sumptuous Roselyn Hall ballroom above the shop on Stephenson Street, designed by William Stockdale, built by the Ball Brothers and decorated by Fleming and Co: “The decorative scheme of pea green and silver is most dignified and charming.

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The ceiling is a cream combed plastic paint, waved; and the walls are decorated with modern spray-craft. Fumed oak bands at the top and bottom of the dado, with three silver bands within, give a most pleasing effect. The silver motif is also carried out on the radiators and alcove arch. The curtains are of orange velvet with silver bands.”

Aunt Ann has fond memories from her Saturday job in Stephenson Street: “Two ladies used to come in with their tea towels to wrap the teacakes in,” she recalls. She worked in the grocer’s shop in the morning, sometimes with Mr. Hunter’s daughter, another Margaret. Then she would enjoy lunch with staff in the ‘finishing room’ of the Roselyn Hall upstairs, before ‘waiting on’ at functions in the afternoon as part of a team of waitresses in their smart, black dresses and white aprons. The food was made in another room and then brought into the finishing room to prepare for serving. Dishes including ham and tongue salad and Hunter’s famous trifle were commonly requested. When Laughton Hunter was joined by fellow confectioner, Mr Fairbairn, their wonderful inventions such as ‘sweet cauliflowers’, ‘mushroom cake’ and little bread buns called ’softies’ made the Roselyn Hall one of the most popular venues in town.

By the time her sister, Jean, had her 21st birthday party there, Ann had moved away to teacher training college, but she was allowed special dispensation to return to Shields for the occasion. Gerry Carr, a local estate agent, accompanied by his wife, Valerie, acted as compère, playing records and initiating dancing and games such as ‘trip to Mars’, which was similar to ‘pass the parcel’. It was not only memorable for the fantastic food and entertainment but also for the fact that my gran cut her hand playing a party game and had to go to hospital! Both sisters eventually held their wedding receptions there, as did my Auntie Vivien on my mother’s side of the family.

Although mainly recognised by former pupils of Priory Primary School where she eventually taught, Aunt Ann still had customers of Hunter’s coming up to her for years, reminiscing about the delicacies she sold them. In September 2023, Hunter’s was featured in the ‘Gannin’ Shoppin’ in Shields’ exhibition by the ‘Remembering the Past’ charity in St Columba’s Church on Northumberland Square. I was delighted to spot my Great Aunt in a photo of the whole team of staff. Ann treasures her own photos of herself in the Roselyn Hall with fellow waitresses Lizzie Baine, Edith Banks, Mrs Scorfield, Mrs Armstrong and Mrs Harrison, and outside the shop with her Aunt Margaret and their colleagues, Mabel, Shelagh, Joan, Mrs Hunter and the long-serving delivery driver, Mr. Liddle.

Great Aunt Margaret worked at Hunters until she retired, with a small farewell gathering in the Stephenson Street shop to mark the occasion.

Not long after, the arrival of supermarkets spelled the end for the humble grocer’s shops, which could not compete with their lower prices. As a last-ditch attempt at reviving the business, Hunter enlisted local decorator, Drummond Amin, to refurbish the Roselyn Hall.

Chairs were removed, making way for round tables so people could just pop in for a casual coffee. This did not prove to be very successful and with the glory days of the business long gone, nobody from the Hunter family was enthusiastic enough to carry it on. The premises on Stephenson Street were sold and used as a base for the North Shields Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, otherwise known as the ‘Buffs Club’.

The property was sold again in recent years and is undergoing extensive refurbishment. The current owner is respectful of the building’s history and is keen to keep or replicate several original features, for example working from old photographs to recreate the look of the original windows as faithfully as possible. It is too early to reveal exact plans for the future purpose of the premises, but the venue will be named ‘The Bakery’ in homage to its previous incarnation and there will be a surprise blast from the past in the form of a new reproduction sign. This will surely bring the memories flooding back for many Shields folk.

Further reminiscences can be found on the Remembering the Past website: www.rememberingthepast.co.uk Do you have any memories or old photographs of Hunter’s or the Roselyn Hall? Let us know!

SHOW

You can see my work on Instagram (@ad.paintingz) or my website (www.adillustration.co.uk). I also have a solo show coming up at Republic Gallery (@republic_gallery) in Blyth on March 22nd, where I’ll be showcasing a brand-new collection of paintings—including several North Shields pieces. I do take commissions! If you have something in mind, drop me a message—I’d love to create something special for you. Instagram is a great place to reach me, or you can email me at earthadillustration@gmail.com.

Art

Art

LOCAL ARTIST ANTHONY DOWNIE I’ve been doodling for as long as I can remember—through school, college, and university—much to the dismay of most of my teachers, at least until A Level.

Pursuing a career in the arts felt like a natural progression. For years, I worked as a freelance digital illustrator, designing album covers, band tees, posters, and similar projects. However, around 2022, I started feeling uneasy about the growing influence of AI in the creative industry. That’s when I decided to shift to painting, and I haven’t looked back since.

How does North Shields inspire your work? Any local artists or creatives who’ve had an impact on you? North Shields inspires me simply because I'm North Shields born and bred, I spent my teenage years exploring every inch of the place. So it's no surprise really why I paint the subject matter I do. Since I started painting I often find myself struck by little moments—like the way a shadow falls across a back lane while I’m out walking the dog. These details can stop me in my tracks, they feel so natural as subject matter. I’m not forcing it; it’s just about noticing the beauty in the everyday.

I might walk the same street a thousand times, but one day, something about the light and shadow will feel completely new. I aim to reflect those fleeting moments in my work.

That said, I don’t try to dictate a story to the viewer. I’d rather let them interpret the scene themselves. My job is to create the framework for the viewer—they get to decide what it means to them. My goal is to reflect those moments in my work. That said, I don’t try to tell a specific story to the viewer—I’d rather leave the interpretation open. My role is to set the scene; it’s up to the viewer to decide what it means to them. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of support, particularly from my family. I’ve also had some brilliant teachers along the way. Studying art and photography at Tynemouth College was especially formative—it solidified my path. As for painting, I lived in Brighton between 2012 and 2017, working in a pub. One of the regulars was Andrew Gifford, a painter originally from Middlesbrough who studied at Newcastle University. He gave me a book of his Newcastle paintings, which are absolutely stunning (and worth checking out!). That book sat on my shelf for years, but during the last COVID lockdown, I picked it up again and really studied it. I thought, “I’m going to give this a try.” Since then, I’ve been hooked. Painting has completely changed how I see the world, which I didn’t expect.

What would you like to see more of in North Shields to help support and celebrate artists like yourself? A community-led public exhibition space in North Shields would be fantastic—a central hub where artists, residents, and visitors could come together to celebrate creativity in all its forms. While we’re lucky to have great resources already— like the reopened Globe and venues that encourage artists to showcase their work— there’s still room for growth. A dedicated, accessible venue could provide opportunities for emerging and established creatives alike. It could host workshops, artist talks, and collaborative projects involving the local community, making art more inclusive and accessible.

If you were to paint something that captures the heart of North Shields, what would it look like? What story would it tell? I hope all my paintings of North Shields capture a little of the area’s essence. It’s not just about painting landmarks—it’s about the nuts and bolts of Shields, the everyday sights and moments that make it unique. For me, the beauty of North Shields lies in its simplicity and authenticity.

Your studio is located in North Shields—can you tell us more about it and why you chose North Shields as a base? It’s a short walk from my house, haha. It’s in Lighthouse Studios, which is a great place to work—though it’s a bit cold in winter, but aren’t all studios? There’s so much amazing work being created there by talented people across all kinds of art forms. I have to give a special shoutout to Keith Barrett, an incredible sculptor, friend, and the studio owner. He let me build a mezzanine studio above my partner’s (@alysondonnellyceramics) pottery studio. It’s been the perfect setup.

History

THE EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY HILTON VALENTINE

By Diane Wailes Like his music, the headstone that marks the final resting place of guitar legend, Hilton Valentine, is out of the ordinary. He was the man responsible for one of the most famous rock intros of all time - The Animals breakthrough 1964 hit, House of the Rising Sun. Hilton Valentine grew up in North Shields, at 42 Coburg Street, where he’s remembered with a blue plaque. He never forgot his childhood home; one of his later solo albums was titled Skiffledog on Coburg Street.

His mother bought Hilton his first guitar in 1956 when he was 13 and he soon began to develop his distinctive playing style, which eventually earned him praise from the likes of Bob Dylan.

Hilton played on a string of hit records, including We Gotta Get out of This Place and Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood. Along with bandmates Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler (also buried in Preston Cemetery), Alan Price, and John Steel, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame in 2001.

Hilton died in January 2021, in his home in Connecticut, USA, aged 77. But North Shields was clearly still very special to him and his body was returned to England to be buried here, in Preston Cemetery.

[DIRECTIONS: To find the headstone: enter the cemetery by the main gates and go straight ahead at the mini roundabout. Continue downhill until you reach the end of hedge, then turn immediately left and after about 30 paces you’ll see the headstone on your right, underneath a tree.

History

EVERY PICTURES TELLS A STORY

By Keith Bruce “I went to The Boro the morrow…” So the nonsense rhyme goes. I always thought this was unique to North Shields, but versions exist all over the country from Brigadoon to Pimlico.

Most versions start, “I went to the pictures tomorrow…” Our version actually mentions a cinema, so we win.

The Boro stood from 1910 to 1957 in Lower Rudyard Street and was originally a theatre managed by Stan Laurels’ dad. After its closure the building was derelict for a number of years and degenerated into another fine mess.

There’s no sign of the building now. Obviously not as Hardy as first thought.

Nobody ever pointed out that it’s rude to point.

Neither the advert nor the cinema exist today.

So it’s all a bit pointless anyway.

The Rex was an impressive looking cinema which stood on Billy Mill Avenue from 1936 until Of course, The Boro wasn’t the only show in town. There were plenty of rivals in Shields and 1996. Although, the last film was shown in February 1966. After that The Rex succumbed to each cinema had it’s own history. One of the more famous ones was The Comedy on Saville the bingo craze and it became a case of “Eyes down” instead of “Curtain up”. The site is now Street next door to The Colin Campbell pub. occupied by funeral directors instead of the Originally built as The Oddfellows Hall it was refurbished and opened as The Comedy Palace Hollywood sort. of Varieties in December 1899.

The last man standing, as far as cinemas in North Shields are concerned, is The Princes in By 1910 it was operating as a cinema called Russell Street as the building is still there. It Central Palace but in 1912 it was refurbished again and named Central Kino. Not long after it opened as The Princes Theatre in October 1929 but was sold to the Gaumont Group and was renamed Comedy Theatre of Varieties before it finally became The Comedy Theatre in renamed The Gaumont in 1950, which is how older generations in Shields probably 1924. remember it. The Noble Organisation acquired the business in 1975 and it eventually became a I don’t know why a place called The Comedy bingo hall until it’s number was finally up. Pub kept changing its’ name. It all sounds a bit chain Wetherspoons were rumoured to be funny. interested in the building but they couldn’t get the key of the door and the idea ended up as The Albion Cinema, on Albion Road, was the youngest of the towns’ picture houses. This was “One and a quarter – dead in the water.” a handsome Art Deco style building that So now there’s nowhere left in town where it is opened on the second of February 1914 and possible to “Fall from the Pit to the Gallery and lasted until March 1976. Directly opposite the cinema, on what is now Chalet 86, there used to bust a front bone in your back”. be a wooden advertising panel with a painting, Which is where I came in. similar to the famous Kitchener Poster, of a finger pointing across the street. Underneath was the legend ‘The best show in town is there.’

Music

Q&A WITH ROB KIRTLEY THE MAN BEHIND JIMI HANDTRIX Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, creativity, and puppetry as Jimi Handtrix takes the stage at The Station East in Gateshead on March 21st—World Puppetry Day! With support from Ben Dawson of Snakes With Tits, this gig promises to be a unique fusion of live music and dynamic street performance.

When did you first come up with the idea of combining puppetry with street performance, and when did Jimi Handtrix officially come to life?

The idea struck me in 2019 when I stumbled upon a YouTube video of a puppeteer doing something similar. Having trained in puppetry at Washington Arts Centre in the late ’80s and worked with a puppet company in Tynemouth, I always dreamed of combining puppetry with live street performance. It felt like the perfect way to merge my passions.

Jimi’s first version came together in 2019, but it wasn’t quite right. I revisited the idea during the pandemic, refined the concept, and finally debuted the official Jimi Handtrix puppet on April 7, 2023, on Northumberland Street in Newcastle. I’ve been on this amazing journey ever since!

Can you share some memorable moments from your performances?

The standout has to be my 2024 Summer Busking Tour. I performed in 54 towns and cities across the UK, camping along the way. It was an epic journey where I met incredible people, made new friends, and brought joy to countless audiences. One performance in Dundee really stood out—the energy was electric, with people dancing in the street and truly connecting with the act.

What’s been your most iconic performance or song?

Dundee during the busking tour takes the crown for energy and crowd connection.

Another big moment was busking outside St. James' Park before Sam Fender’s gig in June 2023. Sure, I wasn’t officially on the lineup, but hey, I played before Sam Fender at St. James' Park—that counts, right?

Have you collaborated with any famous figures?

While I haven’t officially collaborated yet, my performance outside St. James' Park was a personal highlight. Sam Fender, if you’re reading this, I’m ready to open for you anytime.

Let’s make it happen!

What advice would you give to aspiring creatives?

Don’t wait for perfection—just start. Creative paths are unique, and the journey itself is what makes it special. Experiment, embrace the process, and don’t overthink it. Passion and perseverance will guide you.

What’s Next for Jimi Handtrix?

2024 is shaping up to be a big year! I’m introducing three new puppets: Tina Brightstar: A powerhouse female singer.

Buddy Lennon: A throwback to the ’50s and ’60s classics.

Ronnie Rude: A punk puppet with attitude!

Catch Jimi Handtrix live at The Station East on March 21st, alongside Ben Dawson.

For bookings or inquiries, reach out via social media (@jimihandtrixpuppet) or email jimihandtrixpuppet@gmail.com.

Waynebordeliphotography

Music

YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL HITS THE RIGHT NOTES IN NORTH SHIELDS North Shields is now home to a brand-new Yamaha Music School, which officially opened its doors last week at 2-4 Russell Street. The launch event saw a fantastic turnout, with residents flocking to the open day to explore the facility and enjoy complimentary lessons.

Building on the success of its Blyth branch, which opened in 2024, the North Shields school offers a wide range of music lessons, including piano, drums, electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and saxophone. Steven Moore, who spearheaded the expansion, expressed his excitement: “It’s been an amazing year in Northumberland, and we’re excited to bring Yamaha Music School to North Shields.”

Yamaha Music Schools, which began in Japan in 1954, are renowned for their innovative teaching methods and inclusive approach. With over 5 million students worldwide, the schools cater to all ages, fostering a love of music through individual lessons, group activities, and live performance opportunities.

The new North Shields location has already welcomed its first students, with many more signing up daily. Lessons are designed to nurture skills and creativity, with a strong emphasis on community involvement.

Spaces are still available for new students. To learn more or enroll, contact the school via email at info@yamahanorthumberland.com, WhatsApp at 07874 479 481, or call 0191 816 0410.

Music

SHE THE SHOW Performed by a talented 5-piece band of seasoned musicians, SHE The Show delivers highenergy performances, rich harmonies, electrifying guitar solos, passionate instrumentals, and energising drum beats that will ignite your senses and take you on an unforgettable musical journey. Infusing new-age energy into the pop-rock anthems of the 70s and 80s, the show offers an exciting yet nostalgic experience that resonates with both long-time fans and new listeners alike.

Featuring hits from pop-rocks heroes like Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Blondie, Chrissie Hynde, Pat Benatar, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, and more, the show celebrates the fearless women who shaped the music of this iconic era.

The concept behind SHE The Show came from the band members’ vision of an epic line-up of female icons—sheroes who profoundly influenced their musical journeys. With extensive experience in songwriting and live performances, the band combined their individual talents and ideas to create a show that honours these legendary women and the music they created.

The chemistry between the band members is electric, effortlessly channeling the sounds and influences of these iconic women while forging a captivating connection with the audience. Their passion and stage presence deliver an experience that feels truly magical.

SHOW DATE: 8th March 2025 TICKET PRICE: £18.00(Standing) ADDRESS: The Exchange 1856, Howard St, North Shields NE30 1SE, SHOW TIME: 8.15 PM TICKETS: www.theexchange1856.com

@KONRAD LEADER

Health THE RED BENCH PROJECT REACHING OUT TO BOTH SIDES OF THE TYNE

By Caroline Oswald The North East has recorded the highest suicide rate in England and Wales for three years in a row, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). But Wayne Groves doesn’t care about statistics. For him, just one life lost is one too many. Through ‘The Red Bench Project’, Wayne is aware of having saved at least four lives so far. He hopes to continue to save countless more by placing benches with distinct red legs in suicide hotspots across the region: “If you see someone sitting on the bench alone, please say hello, make sure they are ok. They could just be relaxing and enjoying the beautiful view, but they may be struggling and need help. You stopping for a chat could be enough to show them that they are not alone and that people do care. You could make all the difference!”

Since Wayne first posted his initial idea on Facebook in 2022, the scheme has gone from strength to strength, with several benches already installed in South Tyneside. The original Red Bench was placed in a location that has always been special to Wayne, next to the Sandancer pub. There are other benches at Marsden Grotto (one of the biggest suicide hotspots), at Mill Dam Customs House, in Jarrow and in Hebburn. There is now also a bench at Thurston Outdoor Education Centre in the Lake District and many more planned further afield. Over the past year, enquiries have come in from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackpool, Manchester, Leeds, Dorset, Kent, Cyprus and even Canada!

Wayne has engaged much interest due to his obvious passion for the cause, which stems from bitter personal experience: “I woke up in a hospital bed with my stomach being pumped. I had a very close call. Even when you are at the very bottom, the only way is up. But when you feel like that, you don’t know it. Knowing where to get help is crucial.” Each bench has a plaque displaying the number for the Samaritans and The Red Bench Project website, which, when fully complete, will contain a comprehensive directory of mental health services and support groups. Wayne aims to collaborate with as many groups and charities as possible. He has always been involved with fundraising from a young age and it is admirable how he highlights so many other good causes through his work, often putting other charities forward for funding before his own: “Life’s hard enough, so why not help each other out?”

Health You get back what you give, and Wayne’s South Shields based project has gained many supporters on both sides of the water. North Shields singer Liam Fender has donated one of his songs to be featured in a recent documentary about The Red Bench Project, filmed by local company, Seaspray Films. Wayne hopes to show the finished film at Cineworld in Boldon, where he already participates in many fundraising events.

He would also like to involve North Tyneside’s Blue Door Project, which runs a movie-making group among other activities for people with learning disabilities. It really would be a red-carpet event for The Red Bench Project!

After the personal difficulties he has experienced, the Red Bench Project has given Wayne drive and purpose in his life. However, he states: “As anyone who has suffered from depression will know, it’s still a struggle.

You have to work at it.” Wayne has certainly worked tirelessly to help others, which in turn has enabled him to help himself. Aside from the charity, Wayne’s day job is running pub quizzes and hosting boxing matches. He has enjoyed a long friendship with Dani and Ollie from Bedford Street Boxing Club in North Shields and they are backing his project all the way, adorning their coaches’ and fighters’ kits with The Red Bench Project logo. Boxing has a long history in the town and Wayne is keen to promote the positive effect it can have on mental health, encouraging discipline and physical fitness. The club now has space for more members. No experience is needed and gloves are provided at no additional cost.

There are currently three Red Benches lined up for North Tyneside. Wayne is open to suggestions on where to put them, and he will work with the council and local police to establish the most appropriate locations. One possibility is next to the Gibraltar Rock in Tynemouth, where local poet and supporter of the project, Earl Charlton, actually pulled someone from the rocks nearby.

Each bench is fully funded by The Red Bench Project, through sponsorship from local businesses or individuals.

Businesses can choose to have their details engraved on the bench’s plaque, as can individuals or families. One family has dedicated a bench to their daughter, who they lost tragically to suicide. Wayne is however keen to stress that they are not intended as memorial benches, and plaque inscriptions should have a positive message: “A Red Bench could give someone a place they can go to for peace.

Taking a moment to sit may give someone contemplating suicide time to calm down so that they don’t go through with it.”

Recently Wayne has begun introducing The Red Bench Project to schools. At the time of writing, he was nervously anticipating an assembly with over 200 youngsters at Marsden Primary School.

He was conscious that he would have to choose his approach carefully due to the sensitive nature of the topic when presenting it to children, but he believes that enabling young people to open up about mental health will be of great benefit to them. He is supplying the school with three benches, which the children can design, build and paint themselves.

They can be as creative as they like with the design, as long as each bench still has red legs!

The Red Benches will be placed in various locations around the school grounds, with the idea that children will have somewhere to go for whatever reason, whether it be to have some calm time, to find someone to talk to or play with or to get help. Wayne hopes to work with more schools in South and North Tyneside in the future: “We need to educate our children so that they know there is help out there. Hopefully they will learn that they don’t have to be alone by the time they leave school.”

It is a wonder how Wayne manages to fit it all in.

As well as his mental health, he is currently struggling with physical health issues, too.

Nevertheless, he also finds time to run an online magazine, NE Online, dedicated to helping others.

Wayne aims to continue spreading as much information about where people can get support as possible: “There’s no one fix, no magic cure, and everybody is different. There are so many groups out there, though, that there is sure to be something to suit everyone.”

To find out more about The Red Bench Project and its associated charities, go to: Facebook @TheRedBenchProject

LEFT WAYNE GROVES

WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT REBUILDING A FATHER-SON BOND

By Alex Wright Growing up as a young boy of divorced parents is a storm of love, loss, fear, and loneliness. It’s a constant struggle to balance family relationships with the pull of social ones. Do I visit dad on the weekend or spend it with friends? Do I call him back or hope we remember tomorrow? In this tugof-war, our hearts can become frayed, both sides clinging onto what’s left of the love and trust we have for one another.

For years, I believed my dad didn’t love me.

Our relationship felt distant, like a lighthouse whose bulb had burned out. It stood there, weathering the storms of life, but no longer served its purpose. It stopped guiding us safely back to one another. And so, I became like the darkened lighthouse, standing alone and untethered, unsure how to reconnect.

As this self-titled darkened lighthouse, I craved to be seen and to shine again, not with light, but with love, care, and emotional nourishment. What I got instead were text messages, which were a poor substitute for genuine connection. And no amount of text messages could fill the void of just wanting my dad to show up for me and to hug me.

Eventually any trust that I had in feeling as though my dad loved me vanished. I drowned it in alcohol, washed it away with tears, and ran myself ragged unable to get the thoughts of sadness out of my head.

One night, consumed by anger, I hit rock bottom. I toyed with the idea of hurting myself, or at least finding some way to transfer the pain, a desperate cry for relief, or for someone to notice. But fear held me back: fear of hurting my family, fear of the irreversible.

Years passed going through the same cycle of getting too drunk and emotions spilling over into rage fuelled crying, until one day, an epiphany struck me: You are enough.

Your worth is yours to define. You can take control. For the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope. I decided to confront my dad, giving him two choices: to stay disconnected or to meet and rebuild our relationship. I didn’t want love to keep distorting into something resembling hate.

To my relief, love hadn’t left, it was just buried beneath years of neglect. I also realised my dad was a lighthouse too, his light extinguished by his own storms and doubts. When we finally talked, it was the most honest conversation we’d had in years. Seven hours of raw truth shattered the walls we’d built up around us.

We chose to start again, to prioritise real connection. We committed to talking, meeting, and being present as father and son. Love, though scarred, endured. I learned that time may distance us, but it doesn’t erase the feelings or moments that truly matter. We both realised it’s never too late to relight the beacons that guide us home.

Instagram @woemanoutdoors A supportive community nurturing our physical and mental wellbeing oudoors

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Hobby

LEE HOLLIS-RICHARDS

THE DELECTABLE GARDEN I’m Lee, a hobby gardener and home cook, usually found covered in flour while baking sourdough in the kitchen, tending to chickens, or caked in mud (thick of clarts as my Geordie mother-in-law will correct me) while working in the garden. I’d like to welcome you to my happy place, The Delectable Garden—a world where I get my hands dirty growing food to create delicious meals for my family and friends.

I started The Delectable Garden blog 8 years ago to share my love for gardening and cooking. It was a space I carved for myself to be creative and to achieve a ‘simple life’ for me, my husband Gary and our two dogs, Ralph and Edith. My blog was inspired by our seasonal garden in my hometown of Nottinghamshire. Last March, we swapped our mature garden for, well, grass, a lot of grass! When we moved to a converted barn in a small village in the Northumberland countryside—a place that has always felt like home to us.

Despite the sea of green, I’ve managed to create something special in our short time here. In spring, I discovered a crown of rhubarb growing in the garden, which I used to make a delicious batch of rhubarb and vanilla jam to share with our new neighbours. In return, they gifted me a bowl of freshly picked damsons, which I turned into damson gin.

With this newfound community came an abundance of apple trees, and by autumn, I was harvesting apples from our gardens to press and brew my very own cider.

This is where my true passion lies—creating home-cooked food from homegrown produce to share with others. You don’t need an allotment or a large garden to do this.

It’s about making the most of the space and time you have. My ever-growing collection of potted herbs is proof that tasty things can flourish in small spaces.

I’ve learned not to get overwhelmed by gardening. I take it plant by plant, border by border. I’ve spent time getting to know my new garden, understanding its boggy and shaded spots. I don’t have a grand design in mind, just a theme—countryside garden. I like to visit gardens with a similar theme for inspiration. I also use plant identification apps when wandering through gardens and the countryside to help me pick plants that suit my vision and are suitable for the tricky spots I have identified.

In December, my first task was planting a row of cider apple trees leading up the driveway—partly because it’s bare-root season, but mostly because I love cider! This is my first step to a countryside garden filled with herbs, wildflowers, native shrubs, and homegrown vegetables, creating a balance of beauty and sustainability.

Join me on my blog www.thedelecatblegarden.co.uk or @TheDelectableGarden on Instagram, as I work toward a more sustainable life through our garden. I’ll be sharing gardening ideas, growing tips, and simple recipes to help you create your own Delectable Garden.

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Business

HIDDEN GEM ON TANNERS BANK: TYNE HOUSE, THE ULTIMATE PARTY PAD IN SHIELDS

By Suzanne Coulson Anyone local to Shields will have passed Tyne House perhaps without even realising! Located on Tanners Bank, Tyne House is one of those buildings that blends into its environment. Well kept, understated and unassuming, its integration into its surroundings are seamless. It’s what’s behind closed doors where it comes to life!

Hidden in plain sight, Tyne House, is a luxurious, purpose-built occasion house for up to 18 people that prides itself on giving the ‘space to enjoy your special occasion in any way you like! Where most properties shy away from large groups, Tyne House not only welcomes it but encourages it with open arms having hosted celebrations from birthdays, Christmas’ divorces, hosts of hens, squads of stags, flurries of families and wedding after parties that go on long into the weekend!

Opened in June 2023, the first guests, a group of stags, adorned the party pad from Birmingham and since then house has gone from strength to strength ever since, welcoming an array of guests from as near as our own doorstep and as far wide as Europe, with a few famous faces adorning the Fish Quay spot to celebrate special occasions with friends and family. Most recently local lass, Geordie Shore star and TV personality Vicky Pattison dwelled in the indulgent residence during the Christmas period for a Christmas weekend complete with an amazing Grazing Table from a locally sourced business.

Business

"TYNE HOUSE HAS THRIVED THANKS TO ITS CONFIDENT APPROACH MAKING IT, AND NORTH SHIELDS, A GO-TO DESTINATION FOR UNFORGETTABLE OCCASIONS" Amy Pringle, owner of Tyne House described its inspiration having come from her own quest for a hen do venue. ‘When I was planning my hen, there were no venues in the North-East that offered what I was looking for - which was somewhere fun, that slept a group of people with hot tubs but was modern, luxurious and of course instagrammable! Our vision was to give the wow factor, something different that we hadn’t seen and bring this to the North-East. I think a lot of celebration house venues discriminate at times and only allow hen parties! We wanted to make sure all groups were welcome including mixed groups and stag parties.’

With stand-out features such as the guest powder room where guests can get ready together, not just one but two hot tubs with neon lighting, a fire pit seated outdoor area as well as a living and kitchen area built for the party, there’s an abundance of quirky yet comfortable qualities. But the pride of Tyne House is their five entirely unique decorated en-suite bedrooms – those being a beach room, dusky room, black & white room, purple room (with accompanying Bridgeton vibes) and a tropical room!

Those at Tyne House recognise that what makes them special is their location. ‘We have the bars and restaurants of North Shields Fish Quay as well as Tynemouth all on our doorstep and walking distance. We of course are also a 20 minute taxi drive into Newcastle city centre!

A lot of houses like ours are based more rurally with no option to have a night in one night then a night out another. We always recommend visiting North Shields fish quay and Tynemouth for the restaurants and bars rather than solely going into Newcastle! We have a list of local recommendations in our welcome book and a highlight on our Instagram and website showcasing all the different places locally.’

Tyne House has thrived thanks to its confident approach making it, and North Shields, a go-to destination for unforgettable occasions. From the sight of gaggles of girls and bands of boys filling up the Fish Quay on a Friday or Saturday night, it's clear that Tyne House isn't just a party pad - it's a business boon for the local area.

Details and booking from www.tyne-house.co.uk Instagram: @tynehouse_

Shop Local

HARVEY’S OFF LICENCE CORNER SHOP If you haven’t been to Harvey’s yet, you’re missing out! Tucked away at 20 West Percy Street, this little corner shop has become a real gem in North Shields since it opened just a year ago. It’s not just your average off-licence—it’s a friendly, welcoming place packed with unique finds and everyday essentials, all wrapped up in proper community spirit.

Here’s why everyone’s talking about Harvey’s: A Favorite in North Shields In just a year, Harvey’s has built a loyal following by offering great products with a generous dose of community spirit.

1. Expanding Selection of Indian Spices From cinnamon sticks to star anise, Harvey’s caters to home cooks looking for authentic flavors. With even more spices on the way, it’s a must-visit for anyone who loves to cook.

2. Exclusive Local Products Harvey’s is the only shop in the area to stock Mrs. Darlington’s Made with Love jams, marmalades, and chutneys—favorites include ginger curd and blackcurrant jam. They also offer Farmhouse Biscuits for just £2 per pack, perfect for gifting or snacking.

3. Fresh & Authentic Indian Snacks Enjoy freshly made samosas and onion bhajis for just £1 each, or place an order for authentic Indian cuisine for gatherings of 10 or more.

4. Elegant Extras Harvey’s adds a touch of luxury with Yodeyma perfumes, featuring oriental, woody, and amber scents to treat yourself or gift a loved one.

5. Offering services like PayPoint, free cash withdrawals, and Yodel parcel pick-up, 6. Harvey’s is great—it’s a local lifeline for quick errands and convenience.

Convenient Hours Open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 8 PM, and Sundays and bank holidays, 12 PM to 6 PM, Harvey’s fits perfectly into your schedule.

Address: 20 West Percy Street, NE29 9ODS Phone: 07563 214333 Facebook @Harvey’s North Shields

Business

LOCAL BUSINESS NORTH SHIELDS This month, we're shining a light on some local businesses and some of the freshest faces in North Shields' business scene. It's incredible to see new ventures popping up around town, each bringing something unique to our community. From cozy cafes to creative studios, these businesses are adding fresh energy to our streets and supporting our local economy.

HOODEX CHARITY SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING SHOP Exciting things are happening at One Three One in North Shields! HoodEx Charity Sustainable Clothing Shop has officially opened its doors and it’s already creating a buzz.

From premium brands like Belpark, Barbour, Adidas, and Calvin Klein, HoodEx offers an impressive range of pre-loved and new clothing at wallet-friendly prices. Grab hoodies for just £8 each or 2 for £15—a win for both your wardrobe and the planet!

HoodEx offers alteration and repair services to refresh your style while keeping it uniquely yours. HoodEx’s mission is to support local young people at risk by pairing them with volunteer mentors. Every purchase contributes to this meaningful cause.

Have quality clothing you no longer need?

Donate to HoodEx

📍 1 Bedford Street, NE29 6QA 📷 Follow: @hoodex

Pop in and support a great cause today!

Photography @thats.tats

ODD OURS Local adventurer Tatjana @thats.tats stopped by Odd Ours Vintage and was blown away by the treasures inside! From retro fashion to unique decor, it’s a must-visit for anyone exploring the area.

📍 1 Northumberland Place, NE30 1QP 📷 Follow: @odd.ours.shop

Pop in and find your next treasure today!

Limited Edition 'The Siren' Tote Bag Limited-edition Siren Tote Bags in collab with @prefab77_ and @elevation_walls are now available at the Post Office on Nile Street!

Whether you’re out shopping, heading to work, or just want to show off your love for North Shields, this bag’s got you covered.

📍 Where to grab yours: Post Office, Nile Street

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RACHAEL MEYER, HUMANIST CELEBRANT SHARING STORIES OF LIFE AND LOVE IN AND AROUND NORTH SHIELDS, NEWCASTLE AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTH EAST. NON-RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES FOR EVERYONE. WEDDINGS: RACHAELMEYER.COM FUNERALS: GRANDGOODBYES.COM

Business

I LOVE NORTH SHIELDS

RECOMMENDS In this section, we spotlight hidden gems and fresh finds in North Shields! Have you discovered a new café or local spot that stands out? Whether it's dog-friendly, offers amazing coffee, or has a unique vibe, we’d love to hear why it caught your eye. Perfect for newcomers, visitors, and residents alike—share your recommendations with us!

Durano Lounge From Toy Museum to Tynemouth Gem Tatjana @thats.tats recently explored the newly transformed Durano Lounge and here’s what she had to say: "They’ve got a community pantry, a noticeboard, and even a book swap! The interior is great, the views are spectacular, and they’re dog-friendly too. Definitely worth checking out!”

This former toy museum has been reimagined into a cozy, quirky spot full of character. With amazing views, dog-friendly vibes, and a community feel, it’s a must-visit in Tynemouth!

📍 Durano Lounge, 1 Tynemouth Front Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4BS

Photography @thats.tats

Craving the Best Sausages in Town?

Head over to Emma’s Pen Bal Food Van, right on top of the bank next to the Knotts Flats carpark, and enjoy some seriously tasty treats from Geordie Banger Company! They’re serving up irresistible sausage sandwiches! Plus, grab a creamy hot chocolate or a warming coffee— just what you need on a cold day! Oh, and they’ve got dog treats too!

📍 Tynemouth Front Street, North Shields

Follow: @geordiebangers @penbal_coffee

Events

FEBRUARY 2025 OUR SAM 7th February, 19:00 Wild Roses Theatre Group presents Our Sam, a powerful, emotionally charged drama based on the true story of Samantha Madgin NE28 SUITE, Wallsend tickets: eventbrite.co.uk

MINDFULNESS SESSION 1st February, 10:00

HERITAGE TALK: THE TUDOR TYNE 8th February, 11:00 TALK: THE POWER OF NATURE: SEAGRASS, KELP AND OYSTERS 18th February, 11:00

The Old Low Light oldlowlight.co.uk

INTRODUCTION TO TAROT 14th and 28th February, 19:00

SISTER FULL MOON CIRCLE 15th February, 19:00 The Green Door, Nile Street throughthegreendoor.com

MOSAIC TILE WORKSHOP 25th February, 18:00 The Kiln Studios, North Shields tickets: eventbrite.co.uk

Do you have an event you wish us to cover or promote? get in touch! ilovenorthshields@outlook.com

What’s on in MUSIC this month...

Events

VIOLINIST EMMA FISK AND GUITARIST JAMES BIRKETT PLAY VENUTI AND LANG 7th February, 19:00 The Old Low Light oldlowlight.co.uk

LINDISFARNE 9th February, 19:00 KILLINGWORTH COMMUNITY CHOIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 16th February, 14:30 FLEETWOOD MAC’S RUMOURS WITH THE TRANSATLANTIC ENSEMBLE 21st February, 20:15 The Exchange 1856 theexchange1856.com

NO TOP BUTTON 7th February, doors open 19:00

THE EMINEM SHOW 21st February, doors open 19:00

KID’S UV DISCO 24th February, doors open 12:30 The Klurb nscctheklurb.wixsite.com

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Directory

NORTH SHIELDS-BASED CHARITIES & COMMUNITY GROUPS Live Well With Cancer + North Bank Café (Nile Street) Sarah’s Star (supporting people with incurable illnesses), based at the Linskill Mindstars (children’s mental health) (Albion House, West Percy Street) MAPSS - Mental Health & Physical Support Services + Little Community Hub (Bedford Terrace) Warm Welcome Hubs (various) + YMCA Community Meals North Tyneside YMCA Phoenix Detached Youth Project Pearey House Centre for Visually Impaired + Iris Community Café, Show Racism the Red Card - UK-wide charity based in Linskill Centre Yes You Can North East CIC Deaf Awareness:NE (daNE) - local charity based in Linskill Centre Smart Works - helping women into employment (collection point Hadaway & Hadaway, Solicitors) Meadow Well Connected The Bay Foodbank, Meadow Well North Tyneside Art Studio - Linskill Centre (supporting mental health) North Shields Fishermen’s Mission Linskill ‘engAGE’ community programme for over-55s Linskill Shedders Group GENTS - Guys Especially Need To Speak / It’s OK not to be OK walking group to support men’s mental health Independent North Shields (Football club) Supporters Association Churches Together in North Shields Sew Soe - Sewing for Self, Others & the Environment North Shields Litter Pickers Heritologists Remembering the Past Project (based at the Linskill Centre) ‘Lest We Forget’ Poppies Group North Shields 173 (remembering the Wilkinson’s Air Raid Disaster) Woeman: A supportive community nurturing our physical and mental wellbeing oudoors

BUSINESS SUPPORT North Tyneside Business Forum The Business Factory

Directory

Feeback

PICK UP POINTS FEBRUARY 2025 Baba Yaga's Loft 61 Church Way NE29 0AE | North Shields Tue-Sun | Open 11 AM - 11 PM Instagram: @babayagasns Town Centre: Post Office 12-12A Nile Street NE29 0BD | North Shields

We’d love to hear your feedback! Could you take a moment to fill out our survey and let us know how we can improve ‘I Love North Shields’ and why you think what we’re doing is important for the community?

Barry's Fruit and Veg 70 Bedford Street | North Shields www.facebook.com/eggsandveg The Old Low Light Heritage Museum NE30 1JE | North Shields Tue-Sat | Open 10 AM - 3 PM www.oldlowlight.co.uk

THANK YOU! www.surveymonkey.com/r/ 5DPFRG9

The Exchange Howard Street | North Shields www.theexchange1856.com

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We’re working on a special issue to mark the 800th anniversary of our town,. If you have a story or information you would like to share, please get in touch!

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CARRY YOUR LOVE FOR NORTH SHIELDS, SHARE YOUR PICS #ILOVENORTHSHIELDS

Linkedin company/ilovenorthshields Facebook @ilovenorthshields TikTok @ilovenorthshields Twitter @iluvnorthshields Instagram @ilovenorthshields ilovenorthshields@outlook.com ilovenorthshields.com

RATE CARD PRICES APPLY FROM OCTOBER 2024.

CONTACT US FOR OUR COMMERCIAL RATE CARD AT: WWW.ILOVENORTHSHIELDS.CO.UK

07510623034

ilovenorthshields@outlook.com

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